Fin Smith delivers England Six Nations win over France after nervy beginning

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Fin Smith delivers England Six Nations win over France after nervy beginning

Fly-half Fin Smith admitted he started “like a rabbit in the ***********” on his first Test start before settling down to produce a man-of-the-match performance in England’s last-gasp win over France.

With the match into its 80th minute, the 22-year-old set up the winning try for Elliot Daly before knocking over the winning conversion to propel England to a thrilling 26-25 Six Nations victory.

Smith was named at 10 instead of his namesake Marcus Smith, who started at full-back and missed two relatively straightforward kicks before Fin Smith took over from the kicking tee.

The Northampton star showed nerves of steel to nail two vital late conversions as England fought back to the delight of the Allianz Stadium.

“I was probably not as calm as I looked,” Smith told BBC Sport.

“In the first half, I was like a bit of a rabbit in the ***********, but I felt like I grew into the game and got more of a feel for what Test rugby is like and what it is like to play at that level.

“I’ll learn a lot from that, but I am happy with my first hit out [from the start].

“I was standing over the final conversion, which felt like the longest minute of my life, thinking this better go over, or otherwise I am going to be in big trouble.”

Smith, who was first capped against Italy last year, previously had only came off the bench in his seven international appearances but was handed his chance as England sought to upset the pre-tournament favourites.

Despite some loose kicking in open play, Smith grew into his first start and delivered the key match-winning moments, which included a chip-kick that was sharply finished by Northampton team-mate Tommy Freeman.

“Defensively I thought he [Fin Smith] was very good and he led the troops out there. He was physical,” try-scorer Daly told BBC Sport.

“Then in attack he got the ball to space and put some good kicks in behind.”

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